Sewing-machine attachment.



` A. H. DB VOF.v SEWING MAGHINE ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED .TUNE 8, 1909.

Patented May 2, 1911.

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il TTEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT H. DE VOE, OE ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANU-FACTURING- COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SEWING-MACHINE ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1911.

Application led June 8, 1909. Serial No. 500,837.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. DE Von, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-MachineAttachments, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.v

This invention relates to an improvement in what are commonly known asEnglish binders, as instanced in the United States Patent to Pretty No.27 3,602, of March 6, 1883; and it has for its object to provide abinder of this class which will accommodate itself to the manyconditions under which such attachments are commonly employed whilemaintaining its eectiveness of operation.

As preferably constructed, the body of the binder is formed with alaterally unobstructed convex forming portion and an angularly disposedconcave portion intersecting the same and arranged substantially withinthe line of sea-m, a self-threading tape-folding guide being arranged inregister with the same for normally presenting the binding tape to thebinding guide, but from which the tape may be readily disengaged and cutoff and its end folded under by hand in finishing off a scam. Thebinding guide is provided with certain other advantageous features andis adjustably mounted upon a carrier which is fulcrumed materially abovethe surface of the sewing machine throat-plate which latter is recessedto receive the lower portion of the binder which is yieldinglymaintained therein by a spring also acting to retain the binder ininoperative position when forcibly raised upon its pivotal support topermit plain stitching to be done. 1

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of asewing machine provided with the present improvement. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the binder with the throat-plate detached from themachine, and Fig. 3 a plan view of the same with the binding guide inretracted or inoperative position. Fig. i is a transverse section of thethroat-plate showing the binding guide in end view and Fig.

5 a similar view at right angles to the preceding figure and showing thebinder in front side view. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of certainportions of the attachment with the throat-plate represented partiallyin dotted lines. Fig. 7 is aV transverse section of the tape-guide andtension device. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the feeding devicescoperating with the binder.

Tn Fig. 1, only a portion of the sewing machine bed-plate 1 and head 2of the overhanging bracket-arm are shown, the latter having journaledtherein the vertically reciprocating needle-bar 3 carrying the needle 4.The throat-plate 5, which is secured to the bed-plate by the usualfastening screws G, is formed with the parallel feed apertures 7 and hasin its upper face the recess or cavity 8 in the bottom of which .is theslot 9 but being arranged transversely of the feed-dog apertures 7 andthus transversely of the direction of seam formation. The throat-plateis also provided with the needle-hole 10 at one edge of the recess 8 andextending partly through the same.

The binder comprises a base plate 11 secured adjustably upon the top ofthe throat* plate at the right of the feeddog apertures 7 by means offastening screws 12 passing through slots 12, and is provided with abearing lug 13 in which is journaled the fulcrum-pin 14 arrangedparallel with the feed-dog apertures 7 and having at one end .a head 15formed upon its under side with,

a seat to which is secured by means of the screw 16-an arm 17 havingfixed to its under side by means of screws 18 a block 19 which is formedupon its forward edge with the laterally exposed convex projection 20extending transversely of the feed-dog apertures 7 and intersected atits end adjacent to and at an acute angle with the latter by the concaveguiding portion 21, serving to divide the delivery end portion intospaced work-engaging members embracing the margins of the body-fabricand binding tape. The plane of intersection of the convex and concaveguiding portions of the block 19 has the customary acute angularrelation to the line of seam, the binding tape being drawn over theconvex portion in arched cross-section and led over such angularintersection of the two guiding surfaces and within the concave portionwhere its curvature is reversed for presentation to the margin of thefabric embraced by such concave portion. At the base of the bindingforming projection 20 are provided the oppositely extending guidingflanges 22 and 23, the latter normally projecting downwardly through theslot 9 of the throatplate while the lower member of the U- shapedconcave portion of the binder lies within the recess 8 with itsoperative surface somewhat below that of the throatplate.

' The outer end of the arm 17 is provided with a depending guide-lip 24extending somewhat below the operative surface of the upper member ofthe concave guiding portion 21, and serving to guide the upper edge ofthe binding tape in its passage to the needle. Similarly arranged inregister with the lower member of the concave guiding portion 21 is thelower guide-lip in the form of a block 25 extending across the forwardend of the recess 8 and resting upon the bottom of the same butprojecting slightly above the upper face of the throat-plate. This blockis provided with a shank 2G extending backwardly within the recess 8 andis formed in one edge adjacent the guidelip 25 with a semi-ellipticalneedle-aperture 27 embracing that portion of the needleaperture of thethroat-plate within the re# cess 8. The shank 26 is formed at itsrearward end with longitudinal slots 28 entered by fastening screws 2929 which serve to secure the same adjustably upon a seat 30 formed onthe under side of a slide-plate 31 which has its opposite edges fittedto a slideway formed in the bottom of the base plate 11. The slide-plate31 is formed at its rearward end with an upwardly projecting lug 32adapted to engage the rearward face of a depending lug 33 upon therearward end of the arm 17. A spring 34 is interposed between therearward end of the slide-plate 31 and a transverse pin 35 disposed in alongitudinal socket 36 of the base-plate 11 whereby the lug 32 ismaintained normally in operative engagement with the lug 33 and the lip25 is thus maintained in retracted position. Then the binder-guide iselevated above the bottom of the recess 8 of the throat-plate, themovement of the carrying arm 17 around the axis of the fulcrum-pin 14causes the lug 33 to move forward, thereby releasing the lug 32, whichpermits the slide-plate 31 to advance under the action of the spring 34carrying with it the lower guide-lip 25 until its advance is arrested byengagement of the head of the fastening screw 29 with the forward end ofthe clearance slot 5 in the throatplate.

Secured upon the top of the base-plate 11 by means of the fasteningscrews 12 and the additional screw 12 is a thin metal plate 37 providedat one edge with a spring tongue 38 adapted for engagement with aposition as shown in lateral lug 39 formed upon a collar 40 secured bymeans of a set-screw 41 to the end of the fulcrum-pin 14 opposite thehead 15. The collar 40 is so adjusted upon the pin 14 that in the normaloperative position of the binding guide in which the lower member of theconcave guiding portion 21 is disposed within the recess 8 below theface of the throat-plate, the lug 39 is in its rearward Fig. 2, and aspring tongue 38 acts upon the same to yieldingly maintain the bindingguide in such position, Wvhen, however, the binding` guide is forciblyturned upwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the lug 39moves to a position slightly in advance of the fulcrumpin when thespring tongue 38 tends to maintain the binding guide in its retracted orelevated position.

The base plate 11 is formed with an extension 11 rearwardly of thebearing lug 13 upon which is adjustably mounted by means of a fastening'screw 42 passing through a slot 43 therein the shank 44 of atape-folding guide 45 having a U-shaped tape-guiding passagesubstantially in register with but spaced from the convex projection 2Oof the binder and having a lower limb closed at one edge and an upperlimb open at the extremity which is overhung by the lip 46. As will bereadily seen, the binding tape may be easily introduced edgewise beneaththe lip 46- into the U-shaped guiding passage of the folding' guide, andas easily withdrawn when desired.

In finishing a binding operation, it is common to turn under the end ofthe binding tape, and by the present improvement no unthreading of theforming portion of the binder is necessary for the purpose, as the tapeis at all times exposed thereon, and it is merely necessary to cut itolf at the proper time and turn the cut end under by hand without theusual delay and inconvenience experienced with closed-tube binders.

Upon the bed-plate 1 is secured by means of fastening screws 47 the foot48 of an upturned tape-guiding plate 49 with backwardly curved rearwardend formed with a series of threading slots 50 of different widthsthrough which different sized tapes may be passed in their travel to thebinder. The plate 49 has projecting in advance of its lower edge a lug51 with upturned arm 52 through which is inserted the threaded shank ofan adjusting screw 53 whose point rests upon t-he free end of a fiatspring 54 secured by means of screws 55 upon an upwardly projecting lug56 of a swinging plate 57 fulcrumed upon the foot-piece 48 by means ofthe screw 58 and provided above the lug 51 with an upturned tensionmember 59 formed with a finger-piece 60 by means of which it may beshifted in opposition to the spring 54.

1n threading up the binding apparatus for operation, the binding tape isled from the source of supply through one of the apertures 50 of theguide-plate 49 and the tension member 59 having been temporarily shiftedforwardly, the tape is passed between the plate 49 and the tensionmember 59 and behind .the lug 56 whence it is introduced beneath the lipL16 into the U-shaped folding passage of the guide 45, from which it isdrawn in advance of the convex guiding member 20 and led into t-heconcave guiding passage wherein it is held by engagement of the edge ofthe body fabric in the stitching operation. As will be observed, theguidefianges 22 and 28 guide the edges ofthe binding tape and preventthe latters being displaced face 20, while the guide-lips 24 and 25perform a like function after the binding is turned and assumes aposition in which it is stitched upon the margin of the body fabric.

The concave guiding surface 21 of the binder is purposely madeconsiderably deeper than the normal thickness of the body fabric and thefolded tape applied thereto, and thus normally has only its upperportion occupied by the work; but when an increased thickness of bodyfabric enters the guide, its engagement with the upper member of theportion 21 causes the slight rise and advance of the block 19 so as toshift the edge-guiding portion slightly toward the stitching line, owingto the pivoting of the carrier 17 materially above the guiding portionof the attachment. Ordinarily the entrance of an enlargement in themargin of the body fabric, such as is caused by a cross seam, into thebinding tape takes up an abnormal part of the tape, owing to theincreased thickness of the work, and reduces the marginal portion of thetape overlying the upper and under faces of the body fabric. By thismeans' the stitching is liable to run over the edge of the binding,which results in imperfect work. By advancing the edge-guiding port-ionof the binder when encountering different thicknesses of work, thisdefect in the stitching is avoided.

When encountering increased thicknesses of the work, whereby the bindingtape is distended to cover a larger portion of the surface of theconcave guiding portion 21, it will be observed that the upper edge` ofthe binding tape recedes somewhat from the guide-lip 24. At the sametime the guidelip 25 is shifted outwardly slightly from the lower edgeof the binding tape. This recession of both of the guide-lips 24 and 25from the edges of the tape has been found advantageous in practice,especially in turning corners, where it is desirable to provide ampleclearance for the free manipulation of the tape at such time.

The guiding lip 25 as before described,

in its travel along the convex sur- Y extends slightly above the upperor operative face of the throat-plate, and even when the binding guide20, 21 is thrown upwardly in inoperative position, this guidelip servesas a gage to aid in directing the work to the stitching devices incompleting a binding operation.

The edge-guiding lips 24 and 25 are disposed respectively in operativerelation with the upper and lower members of the concave portion 21 atthe delivery end of the binding guide, and extend both forwardly andrearwardly inthe direction of seam from the line of intersection of theconvex and concave portions 20 and 21 by means of which the binding tapeis formed and turned.

As represented in Figs. 1 and 8, the machine is constructedv with lowerfeeding mechanism including a feed-dog having a body portion 61 arrangedat the left side of the stitch line and adapted to engage the bodyfabric beyond the marginal portion covered by the binding, and having alateral extension 62 arranged rearward of the delivery end of thebinder, for engaging and propelling the binding after it is stitched tothe margin of the body fabric. Disposed above and slightly in advance ofthe lateral extension 62 of the feed-dog, and also disposed rearwardlyof the notched delivery end of the binder is arranged the presser-foot63 whose shank 64 is secured to the lower end of the presser-bar 65.

Opposed to the lateral extension 62 of the lower feed-dog is theserrated lower face of the upper feeding foot 66 which is shownlaterally offset from the block 67 secured to the bottom of the foot-bar68 and forming the shank of the feeding'foot. Opposed to the bodyportion 61 of the lower feeddog is the yielding foot-plate 69 withupturned forward end. This foot-plate is suspended fromthe block 67 bymeans of the stud-screw 70 whose head 71 is normally seated within thecountersink 72 formed in the upper portion of the block 67, and is heldfrom turning by means of the steady pin 7 8 extending upwardly from thefootplate into a suitable socket in the block 67. The foot-plate isnormally pressed downwardly by means of springs 74 interposed betweenthe top of the same and the inner ends of suitable sockets 75 formed inthe lower part of the block 67 The foot-plate is thus adapted tomaintain the body fabric beyond the edge of the binder in effectiveengagement with the presser-foot portion 61 independently of the actionof the other feedingmembers 62 and 66 upon the adjacent portions of thework, the feeding foot 66 having imparted thereto its lateral orwork-advancing movements by mea-ns of a swivel connection 76 with thevibratory bar 77, and receiving rising and falling with those of thesuitable mechanism respective carrying movements alternatingpresser-foot 63 through connected with their bars 65 and 68.

It will thus be seen that the present improvement not only provides forthe proper handling of the binding and the edge of the body fabric whenthe work is of variable thickness, but also insures the proper feed ofthe work under such conditions without distortion or disarrangement ofthe binding during its presentation to the margin of the body fabric andprior to the actual stitching operation.

As will be seen by reference to the drawings, the forward end of theupper guide-lip 24 is shown rounded in its lower portion so as toreadily ride over inequalities in the thickness of the work, and as thispart is pressed downwardly upon the work by the action of thespring-tongue 38, it will be observed that the same serves as a pressuremember auxiliary to the usual presser-foot, while causing the bindingguide to closely follow the surface of the work. Y As this lip 24 has amoveinent with the part 19 toward and from the line of seam, theintroduction of any cross-seams of the binding tape into the attachmentcauses therecession of this pressure member from the edge of the bindingtape so as to afford ample clearance for the latter at such time.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis 1. In a sewing machine attachment, the combination with athroat-plate having a recess in its upper face, of a binding guidehaving its delivery end portion arranged substantially Within the lineof seam and formed with upper and lower work-engaging members, theguiding face of the lower member being normally extended within saidrecess and below the top of the throatplate, means for sustaining saidbinding guide for movement into and out of said recess transversely tothe plane of the upper face of the throat-plate, and means foryieldingly maintaining said guide in normal position partially withinsaid recess.

2. In a sewing machine attachment, the combination with a throat-platehaving a recess i'n its upper face, of a binding guide having itsdelivery end portion normally arranged wit-hin the line of seam, afulcrum for said binding guide parallel with the line of seam anddisposed above Vthe throat-plate and the delivery end portion of saidbinding guide when in operative position, and means for yieldinglymaintaining said guide with one side of its delivery end portiondisposed within said recess and below the upper face of thethroat-plate.

3. In a sewing machine attachment, the combination with a throat-platehaving a recess in its upper face, of a binding guide having a concaveguiding portion normally arranged substantially within the line of seamwith its guiding member extending partially within said recess and belowthc upper face of the throat-plate, a fulcrum for said binding guidedisposed parallel with the line of seam whereby the binding guide ismovable transversely to the plane of the face of the throat-plate, aspring for yieldingly maintaining said guide in position, and meansapplied to said fulcrum and in operative relation with said springwhereby said guide is normally maintained yieldingly with one side ofits delivery end portion disposed within said recess and below theVupper face of the throat-plate and is also adapted to be yieldinglymaintained in operative position when forcibly shifted out of normaloperative position.

4. In a sewing machine attachment, the com ination with a throat-platehaving a recess in its upper face, of a binding guide having a concaveguiding portion with spaced upper and lower work-engaging members andcarrying an edge-guiding lip upon .its upper member and having its loiYer member normally disposed within said rccess of the throat-plate,said binding guide being mounted for movement transversely of the faceof the throat-plate and into and out of the recess in the latter, anedge-guiding lip mounted independently of said binding guide and inoperative relation with the lower member of the same, and a connectionintermediate said binding guide and the second-named lip whereby thelatter is caused to recede from normal operative position transverselyto said concave guiding portion as the binding guide rises from itsrecess.

5. In a sewing machine attachment, the combination with a throat-plate,of a binding guide having a concave guiding portion with spaced upperand lower work-engaging members and an edge-guiding lip normally fixedupon its upper member, said binding guide being mounted for movementltransversely of the upper face of the throat-plate, an edge-guiding lipmovably mounted independently of said binding guide and normallydisposed in operative relation with the lower member of the same, and aconnection intermediate said binding guide and second-named lip wherebythe latter is caused to recede from normal operative positiontransversely to said concave guiding portion as the binding guide risesfrom the throat-plate.

6. In a sewing machine attachment, the combination with a throat-platehaving a recess in its upper face, of a binding guide having a concaveguiding portion with spaced upper and lower work-engaging members andcarrying an edge-guiding lip upon its upper member and having its lowermember normally disposed within said recess l of the throat-plate, saidbinding guide being mounted for movement transversely of the k upperface of the throat-plate and into and i out of the recess in the latter,an edge-guiding lip movably mounted independently of said binding guideand in operative relation with the lower member of the same with itsoperative portion disposed partly above and partly below the surface ofthe throat-plate, and a connection intermediate said binding` guide andthe second-named lip whereby the latter is caused to recede from normaloperative position transversely to said concave guiding portion as thebinding guide rises from its recess.

7. In a sewing mac ine attachment, the combination with a throat-plate,of a binding guide comprising a laterally exposed convex forming portionwith longitudinally arranged tape-edge guiding lips and an angularlydisposed concave portion intersecting said forming portion and arrangedsub- Y stantially within the line of seam, and a U-shaped tape-guide inregister with but spaced from the convex forming the binding guide andhaving one of its limbs open at the edge to admit a binding tapeedgewise into the same, means being thus provided at the receiving endonly of the binding guide for conning the tape to its guiding surfaces,the lead of the tape from the delivery end serving to maintain the tapein operative relation with the guiding surfaces in other portionsthereof.

8. In a sewing machine attachment, the combination with a throat-plate,of a binding guide comprising a laterally unobstructed convex formingportion and an angularly disposed concave portion with spaced upper andlower members and intersecting said convex portion in its upper andlower members at an angle, said upper and lower members being arrangedsubstantially within the line of seam, and edge-guiding lipsrespectively in operative relation with the upper and lower members ofsaid concave portion portion of l of the binding guide and extendingboth forwardly and rearwardly in the direction of seam from the line ofintersection of said convex and concave portions.

9. In a sewing machine attachment, the

combination with a throat-plate formed with a slot transverse to theline of seam, of a binding guide comprising a laterally unobstructedconvex forming portion and an angularly disposed concave portionintersecting the same and arranged substantially within the line ofseam, vertical oppositely extending guide-flanges formed upon saibinding guide at the base of its forming portion, one of said flangesentering said slot in the throat-plate, and a carrier for said bindingguide upon which the latter is movable toward and from the face of thethroatplate.

10. In a sewing machine attachment, the combination with a binding guidefor presenting the binding to the stitch-forming mechanism, of atape-guide comprising a supporting plate having a foot for attachment tothe sewing machine, a swinging plate fulcrumed upon said foot andprovided with a finger-piece adapted to rest against the face of thesupporting plate, a spring carried by said swinging plate, a rigid armcarried by said supporting plate, and a thrust-screw carried by Said armand adapted to compress said spring for forcing said finger-piece uponsaid swinging plate.

l1. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism,of a binding attachment adapted to present a folded binding tape to thestitch-forming mechanism, a presser-foot rearward of the delivery end ofsaid binder, lower feeding mechanism including a feed-dog having alateral extension provided with a feeding surface extended rearward ofthe delivery end of said binder, and upper feeding mechanism comprisinga feeding foot having two relatively yielding portions one of which isdisposed rearward of said presser-foot and opposed to the lateralextension of said feed-dog and the other of which is disposed over thebody of said lower feed-dog and coperates with the same in feeding thebody fabric.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT H. DE VOE.

Witnesses:

II. A. KORNEMANN, Jr., JOSEPH F. JAQUITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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